# MM Alam > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/MM_Alam > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/MM_Alam.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MM_Alam > Source revision: 1352081565 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{for|eponymous entities|PAF Base M.M. Alam|M. M. Alam Road}} {{Short description|Pakistani fighter pilot (1935–2013)}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = [Air Commodore](/source/Air_Commodore) | native_name = {{nq|ایم ایم عالم}} | name = M. M. Alam | honorific_suffix = '''[SJ & Bar](/source/Sitara-i-Jurat)'''{{efn|name="note2"|group="note"|"Bar" refers to a second award of the same honour.}}
'''[SI(M)](/source/Sitara-i-Imtiaz)''' | birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1935|7|6}} | birth_place = [Calcutta](/source/Calcutta), [Bengal Presidency](/source/Bengal_Presidency) | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2013|3|18|1935|7|6}} | death_place = [PNS Shifa Hospital](/source/PNS_Shifa_Hospital), [Karachi](/source/Karachi), [Pakistan](/source/Pakistan) | image = Mohammad Mahmood Alam 1965.jpg | caption = Alam poses with his [F-86 Sabre](/source/F-86_Sabre),{{efn|Large Indian flags mark confirmed kills, smaller indicate probable/damaged.}} 1965 | nickname = Little Dragon{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1663364|title=Fifth death anniversary of war hero MM Alam being observed today|date=18 March 2018|website=[The Express Tribune](/source/The_Express_Tribune)}}
Peanut Alam | service_years = 1953–1982 | branch = {{air force|PAK}}
{{air force|Syria}} | rank = 35px 20px [Air Commodore](/source/Air_Commodore) | battles = {{tree list}} *[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965](/source/Indo-Pakistani_War_of_1965) **[Indo-Pakistani air war of 1965](/source/Indo-Pakistani_air_war_of_1965) *[1973 Arab–Israeli War](/source/1973_Arab%E2%80%93Israeli_War) *[Soviet–Afghan War](/source/Soviet%E2%80%93Afghan_War) (advisory role) {{tree list/end}} | awards = '''See list''' | commands = [No. 11 Squadron PAF](/source/No._11_Squadron_PAF)
[No. 5 Squadron PAF](/source/No._5_Squadron_PAF)
[No. 26 Squadron PAF](/source/No._26_Squadron_PAF) | module = {{Infobox officeholder | embed = yes | education = [RPAF College](/source/RPAF_College)
[PAF Staff College](/source/PAF_Staff_College)
[Royal College of Defence Studies](/source/Royal_College_of_Defence_Studies) | relatives = [Mohammad Shahid Alam](/source/Mohammad_Shahid_Alam) (brother)
[Mohammad Sajjad Alam](/source/Mohammad_Sajjad_Alam) (brother) | known_for = Setting a world record by downing five [Hawker Hunters](/source/Hawker_Hunters) in under 30 seconds, becoming an [ace in a day](/source/ace_in_a_day) on 6 September during the [1965 War](/source/1965_War) '''(disputed)'''{{efn|See disputed record for further details.}} | resting_place = [PAF Base Masroor](/source/PAF_Base_Masroor), Pakistan }} }} '''Muhammad Mahmood Alam'''{{efn|[Urdu](/source/Urdu): {{nq|محمد محمود عالم}}}} (6 July 1935 — 18 March 2013) best known as '''M. M. Alam''' and affectionately nicknamed '''Little Dragon''' and '''Peanut Alam''',{{efn|Earned the nickname because he was "small and cute".}} was a Pakistani [flying ace](/source/flying_ace), [war hero](/source/war_hero), and a former [one-star rank](/source/one-star_rank) officer in the [Pakistan Air Force](/source/Pakistan_Air_Force). Born in [Calcutta](/source/Calcutta), Alam became interested in aviation after witnessing [RAF](/source/RAF) pilots defend his hometown during [World War II](/source/World_War_II). During the [1946 Bihar riots](/source/1946_Bihar_riots), he killed someone in act of [self defence](/source/self_defence) at the age of 11. He supported the [Pakistan Movement](/source/Pakistan_Movement) and moved to [East Bengal](/source/East_Bengal) after the [Partition in 1947](/source/Partition_of_British_India). He joined the [RPAF College](/source/RPAF_College) in 1952 and was commissioned into the [Air Force](/source/RPAF) in 1953. Thereafter, he was attached to its first jet unit, the [No. 11 Sqn](/source/No._11_Squadron_PAF), where he eventually became the top-scorer of the Air Force in air-to-air gunnery competitions. [Patrolling](/source/Combat_air_patrol) over [Sargodha](/source/Sargodha) during the [Indo-Pakistani air war of 1965](/source/Indo-Pakistani_air_war_of_1965) on 7 September, Squadron Leader Alam set a world combat record of shooting down five Indian [Hawker Hunters](/source/Hawker_Hunters) with his [F-86 Sabre](/source/F-86_Sabre) in less than a minute which earned him the designation of '[ace in a day](/source/ace_in_a_day)', making him the only known jet pilot to achieve such a feat. However, the claim has been disputed by the official history of the PAF, former colleague [Sajad Haider](/source/Sajad_Haider), and historians who attributed the account to the [fog of war](/source/fog_of_war). Nonetheless, Haider and Indian historian [Pushpindar Singh Chopra](/source/Pushpindar_Singh_Chopra) credit Alam with two confirmed kills on that day. By the end of the war, he was credited with 9 total air kills, two aircraft damaged, and was awarded the [Sitara-i-Jurat](/source/Sitara-i-Jurat) & Bar.{{efn|name="note2"}} Promoted to Wing Commander in 1967, he was appointed Officer Commanding [No. 5 Sqn](/source/No._5_Squadron_PAF) and oversaw the induction of newly acquired [Dassault Mirage III](/source/Dassault_Mirage_III) aircraft, which he and his pilots [ferried](/source/Ferry_flying) from [France](/source/France) to Pakistan in 1968. In the early 1970s, he was deputed to [Syria](/source/Syria) at the request of the Syrian government to train their pilots. After the [1971 War](/source/India%E2%80%93Pakistan_war_of_1971) broke out, resulting in the secession of [East Pakistan](/source/East_Pakistan) and the creation of [Bangladesh](/source/Bangladesh), he became depressed. He did not report for duty for months and refused to accept his salary, as he believed he hadn't earned it. He led a group of 16 PAF pilots and flew combat missions against the [Israeli Air Force](/source/Israeli_Air_Force) in the [1973 Arab-Israeli War](/source/1973_Arab-Israeli_War) and then commanded a Syrian squadron of [MiG-21](/source/MiG-21)s. As a student at the [Royal College of Defence Studies](/source/Royal_College_of_Defence_Studies) in 1980, officials issued a report comparing him to [Field Marshal William Slim](/source/William_Slim%2C_1st_Viscount_Slim). In 1981, as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Plans), he advocated for the acquisition of [F-16](/source/F-16) fighter jets in a briefing to President [General Zia-ul-Haq](/source/General_Zia-ul-Haq), challenging the position of his own Air Chief, [Anwar Shamim](/source/Anwar_Shamim). That year, concerned by damaging allegations to the PAF's integrity, including that Air Chief [Anwar Shamim](/source/Anwar_Shamim) had reportedly purchased a [ranch](/source/ranch) in the [United States](/source/United_States) for $500,000, Alam advised him to investigate the rumors and lay them to rest. Described as the "blue-eyed boy" of the military regime, Shamim was offended that Alam even advised him and submitted a report to the Ministry of Defence, questioning his integrity instead. Alam petitioned President [General Zia-ul-Haq](/source/General_Zia-ul-Haq), but with Zia firmly in Shamim's corner, his request was ignored, and he was prematurely retired in 1982. In protest, Alam refused his pension. In an attempt to appease him, General Zia offered him a diplomatic posting and the chairmanship of a thinktank, both of which he rejected. Alam had gradually embraced religion in the later years of his career and adopted a [nomad](/source/nomad)ic lifestyle afterward. He disappeared and it was eventually discovered that he had joined the [Afghan Mujahideen](/source/Afghan_Mujahideen) to fight against the occupying [Soviet army](/source/Soviet%E2%80%93Afghan_War) in [Afghanistan](/source/Afghanistan) and became close to [Ahmad Shah Massoud](/source/Ahmad_Shah_Massoud). Afterwards, he lived in a [Mess](/source/Mess) and faced financial hardship as a result of refusing his pension. By 2002, Air Chief Marshal [Mushaf Ali Mir](/source/Mushaf_Ali_Mir) had a guesthouse built for him in [Chaklala](/source/Chaklala) and convinced him to finally accept his pension. He lived there until the mid-2000s, when he was advised to temporarily move to [PAF Base Faisal](/source/PAF_Base_Faisal), though he intended to return, repeated delays kept him there and he eventually settled in. At the age of 77, he died in early 2013 due to complications as a result of his smoking habits. ==Early life== Muhammad Mahmood Alam was born on 6 July 1935 in [Calcutta](/source/Calcutta) in a [Bihari](/source/Bihari_Muslims) family of civil servants that spoke [Urdu](/source/Urdu).{{efn|There is a common misconception that he was ethnically [Bengali](/source/Bengalis) because he was born in the [Bengal Presidency](/source/Bengal_Presidency), but he was in fact [Bihari](/source/Bihari_Muslims).{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2516201|title=Omoiyari for Biharis in Bangladesh's ghettos|author=Dr Rakhshinda Perveen|date=16 December 2024|website=[The Express Tribune](/source/The_Express_Tribune)}}}} His father was Muhammad Masood Alam.{{cite book|title=Sentinels in the Sky: A Saga of PAF's Gallant Air Warriors|author1=Azam Qadri|author2=Muhammad Ali|year=2014|publisher=PAF Book Club|page=143-148}}{{cite web|url=https://pafcollegesargodha.com/pages/details/233|title=Alam House History|website=[PAF College Sargodha](/source/PAF_College_Sargodha)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618151809/https://pafcollegesargodha.com/pages/details/233 |access-date=1 April 2025 |archive-date=18 June 2021 }} According to banker Mohammad Badrul Ahsan, Mahmood Alam claimed that he was a Bengali at heart.{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/2006/02/10/d60210020428.htm|title=Cross Talk: From dogfight to divinity|author=Mohammad Badrul Ahsan|date=10 February 2006|newspaper=[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)](/source/The_Daily_Star_(Bangladesh))}} Alam supported the [Pakistan Movement](/source/Pakistan_Movement) and [Muhammad Ali Jinnah](/source/Muhammad_Ali_Jinnah). Following the [Partition of British India](/source/Partition_of_British_India) in 1947, the family migrated to [East Bengal](/source/East_Bengal), [Pakistan](/source/Pakistan).{{cite news|url=https://www.nation.com.pk/06-Sep-2013/knowing-mm-alam|title=Knowing MM Alam|author=Raja Ehsan Aziz|newspaper=[The Nation (Pakistan)](/source/The_Nation_(Pakistan))|date=6 September 2013}} In the events leading up to the [Partition of British India](/source/Partition_of_British_India) in 1947, he said that he had killed someone in [self defence](/source/self_defence) at the age of 11 during the [1946 Bihar riots](/source/1946_Bihar_riots).{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6E8bAAAAYAAJ&q=%22killed%20someone%22|title=Profiles|author=Rina Saeed Khan|year=1998|page=39|publisher=Vanguard |isbn=978-969-402-319-9 |quote=Alam witnessed first hand the travails of Partition. He was only eleven when riots broke out shortly after the killings of Muslims in Bihar. "I remember picking up a knife and joining the frenzied crowds in the streets," he recalls in his faultless English. He says he even killed someone "but it was in self defense".}} He became an aviation enthusiast after witnessing Japanese fighter planes attacking his hometown of Calcutta during [World War II](/source/World_War_II), forcing the [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force) (RAF) to defend.{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/797636|title=Tribute: Top Gun: M.M. Alam|date=24 March 2013|newspaper=[Dawn](/source/Dawn_(newspaper))}} He recalled seeing a celebratory banner raised by people in Calcutta in honour of RAF pilot Maurice Pring,{{cite web|url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/iaf/history/ww2/in-the-skies-of-calcutta/|title=In the Skies of Calcutta: A tribute to Maurice Pring|date=1 June 2011|website=[Bharat Rakshak](/source/Bharat_Rakshak)}} who shot down three enemy planes. The banner read "Pring prongs 3," a phrase that Alam said "really caught my imagination".{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6E8bAAAAYAAJ&q=%22pring%20prongs%203%22|quote="Because of World War II, I had become an aviation enthusiast. Calcutta was targeted by Japanese fighter planes during the war and the city had to be defended by the Royal Air Force. One RAF pilot called Pring shot down three Japanese planes. I still remember the banner they put up in Calcutta in celebration of his feat: 'Pring prongs 3' — it really caught my imagination."|title=Profiles|author=Rina Saeed Khan|year=1998|page=40 |publisher=Vanguard |isbn=978-969-402-319-9}} At the age of 14, he often built model airplanes out of wood.{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/522950|title=Courageous Commodore: Decorated war hero M M Alam dies at 78|date=19 March 2013|author=Sohail Khattak|website=[The Express Tribune](/source/The_Express_Tribune)}} He completed his secondary education at Government High School in [Dacca](/source/Dacca), where he was a member of the Shaheen Air Training Corps (SATC) under the instruction of Polish pilot Flight Lieutenant Muchowski. As a student at the school, Alam trained with the SATC and earned his coveted glider wings during the graduation parade in [Quetta](/source/Quetta).{{cite web|url=https://secondtonone.com.pk/2023/08/16/promoting-air-mindedness-in-rpaf-soaring-high/|title=Promoting Air-Mindedness in RPAF Soaring HIGH|author=Air Cdre (R) Muhammad Ali, SI(M)|newspaper=Second to None|date=16 August 2023}} ==Personal life== His brothers include Professor [Mohammad Shahid Alam](/source/Mohammad_Shahid_Alam), an economist at [Northeastern University](/source/Northeastern_University),{{cite web|title=Professor of Economics Emeritus Shahid Alam|url=https://cssh.northeastern.edu/faculty/shahid-alam/|access-date=1 April 2025|website=[Northeastern University](/source/Northeastern_University)}} and Dr. [Mohammad Sajjad Alam](/source/Mohammad_Sajjad_Alam), a [particle physicist](/source/particle_physicist) and former professor at the [University at Albany, SUNY](/source/University_at_Albany%2C_SUNY).{{cite web|url=https://www.pakistanlink.org/Community/2013/Mar13/22/03.HTM|title=M. M. Alam Passes Away|author=Dr A. Khan|year=2013|website=Pakistan Link}} The family moved from [East Pakistan](/source/East_Pakistan) to [Karachi](/source/Karachi) after the [Bangladesh Liberation War](/source/Bangladesh_Liberation_War) in 1971. Muhammad Mahmood Alam remained a lifelong [bachelor](/source/bachelor), as the responsibility of raising his younger siblings after his father's death left him with little opportunity to marry. According to his friend, Air Marshal (R) Riaz Uddin Shaikh, while Alam was in Afghanistan during the [Soviet-Afghan War](/source/Soviet-Afghan_War), he became infatuated with the idea of marrying an Afghan woman he had met or encountered there, and he held onto the hope that she would eventually come to Pakistan.{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/article/16552/an-icon-hero-legend-and-friend-%E2%80%93-air-commodore-mm-alam|title=An Icon, Hero, Legend And Friend – Air Commodore MM Alam|author=Air Marshal Riaz Uddin Shaikh|date=19 March 2013|website=[The Express Tribune](/source/The_Express_Tribune)}} Another person, whose father was a friend of Alam, recalled asking him why he had chosen not to marry. Alam replied: "I'm not against marriage; it's just that when you are young you think that life is in your hands, but life is bigger. Someone once said all that is desirable is not attainable — indeed, all that is desirable is often not worth attaining." An avid reader, he had a personal library of over 3,000 books.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_dzgAAAAMAAJ&q=alam|quote=Air Commodore M. M. Alam also made full use of the library. He was probably the most well read officer in the PAF and had a sharp intellect, but he accepted no authority, and could not agree with anybody. I found him always aggressive, a fighter pilot in the cock-pit.|page=112|author=Inamul Haque Khan|year=1999|title=Memoirs of Insignificance |publisher=Dar-ut-Tazkeer }} ==Service years== Alam trained at the Joint Services Pre-Cadet Training School in [Quetta](/source/Quetta), alongside [Ahmad Tasnim](/source/Ahmad_Tasnim), who would later become a [Vice Admiral](/source/Vice_Admiral) in the [Pakistan Navy](/source/Pakistan_Navy).{{cite news|title=A Story of Heroism and Unparalleled Courage: An Interactive Session with Vice Admiral Ahmad Tasnim (R)|date=September 2021|author=Sania Saeed|publisher=Hilal Magazine|url=https://www.hilal.gov.pk/view-article.php?i=5422}} Following six months of training, Flight Cadet Alam joined the [RPAF College](/source/RPAF_College) in 1952. He was commissioned into the [Royal Pakistan Air Force](/source/Royal_Pakistan_Air_Force) on 2 October 1953, as part of the 15th GD(P) course. Soon after, he completed the Fighter Conversion Course at the [PAF Station Mauripur](/source/PAF_Station_Mauripur), emerged as a top class fighter pilot, and was the top-scorer of the Air Force in air-to-air gunnery competitions. Sometime later, he had flown the [Hawker Hunter](/source/Hawker_Hunter) while on attachment with the [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force).{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uh4yAQAAIAAJ|quote=In 1965, Alam was an extremely experienced pilot with many hundreds of hours flying time on the Sabre. In addition, he was top-scorer of the PAF in air-to-air gunnery competitions, and had flown the Hunter while on attachment to the RAF, thus being well aware of the strong points and weaknesses of what was to be his principal opponent in 1965.|page=174|title=Air aces|author=Christopher F. Shores|year=1983 |publisher=Presidio Press |isbn=978-0-89141-166-6 }} On 27 October 1964, the PAF held an air show in [Peshawar](/source/Peshawar) in honour of Indonesian Air Marshal [Omar Dhani](/source/Omar_Dhani). Among those who performed were the [F-86 Sabre](/source/F-86_Sabre) formation of the "Sabres Nine – 1964" team, led by Wing Commander [Anwar Shamim](/source/Anwar_Shamim). The team consisted of Squadron Leaders M Arshad, [Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui](/source/Sarfaraz_Ahmed_Rafiqui), Mukhtar Ali, [Muniruddin Ahmad](/source/Muniruddin_Ahmed_(fighter_pilot)), MM Alam, and Flight Lieutenants M Masud Khalid, Yusaf A Khan, and [Yunus Hussain](/source/Yunus_Hussain).{{cite book|title=Cutting Edge PAF: Reminiscences|author=[Anwar Shamim](/source/Anwar_Shamim)|year=2010|page=65}} ===1965 War=== {{main|Indo-Pakistani Air War of 1965|Indo-Pakistani War of 1965}} [[File:MM Alam Gun Camera.jpg|thumb|left|Photograph taken from the [gun camera](/source/gun_camera) of Squadron Leader MM Alam shows an [IAF](/source/Indian_Air_Force) [Hunter](/source/Hawker_Hunter) aircraft plummeting to the ground in flames after its wing tanks ruptured following a brief burst of 0.5-inch Browning machine-gun fire by Sqn Ldr Alam, 1965.]] [[File:Field Marshal Ayub Khan, MM Alam (1965).jpg|thumb|right|200px|[Field Marshal Ayub Khan](/source/Field_Marshal_Ayub_Khan) pins the [Sitara-i-Jurat](/source/Sitara-i-Jurat) on Squadron Leader MM Alam, 1965]] Flying in a formation of three [F-86 Sabre](/source/F-86_Sabre)s, Squadron Leader MM Alam shot down one [Hawker Hunter](/source/Hawker_Hunter) of the [Indian Air Force](/source/Indian_Air_Force) (IAF), flown by Squadron Leader AK Rawlley,{{efn|name="note1"|Brother of Lt. General [N. C. Rawlley](/source/N._C._Rawlley).}} over [Halwara Air Force Station](/source/Halwara_Air_Force_Station) on 6 September 1965, in a dusk attack by the PAF.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ENdKwDC97vQC&q=alam|title=The Air Forces|author1=Ashley Brown|author2=Jonathan Reed|page=111|year=1989 |publisher=National Historical Society |isbn=978-0-918678-50-8 }} At 1715 hours, Squadron Leader [Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui](/source/Sarfaraz_Ahmed_Rafiqui) led a formation of 3 [F-86 Sabre](/source/F-86_Sabre)s with [Yunus Hussain](/source/Yunus_Hussain) as his No. 2 and [Cecil Chaudhry](/source/Cecil_Chaudhry) as No. 3. The formation took off from [PAF Station Sargodha](/source/PAF_Station_Sargodha) heading towards [Halwara](/source/Halwara). On the way there, they met up with Alam's formation who was returning from an aborted raid on the [Adampur Air Force Station](/source/Adampur_Air_Force_Station) of the IAF. Alam informed them about his encounter with four Indian [Hawker Hunters](/source/Hawker_Hunters) over [Tarn Taran](/source/Tarn_Taran_district). On 7 September, while flying a [Combat Air Patrol](/source/Combat_Air_Patrol) mission over [Sargodha](/source/Sargodha) with his wingman Flying Officer Masud Akhtar,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aa8jAAAAMAAJ&q=%22masud%20akhtar%22%20%22alam%22|title=History of the Pakistan Air Force, 1947-1982|year=1982|author1=Syed Shabbir Hussain|author2=M. Tariq Qureshi|page=155 |publisher=Pakistan Air Force |isbn=978-0-19-648045-9 }} Squadron Leader Alam stated that they encountered five IAF Hawker Hunters who were part of the Strike No. 4 of that day. Alam and the PAF claimed that he had shot down all five.{{cite web|url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/iaf/history/1965war/appendices/|title=THE INDIA-PAKISTAN WAR 1965: Appendices|date=9 June 2013|website=[Bharat Rakshak](/source/Bharat_Rakshak)}} The Indian pilots who were said to have been shot down by Alam were Squadron Leaders Onkar Nath Kacker and [A B Devayya](/source/A_B_Devayya), Flight Lieutenant Guha, Flying Officer Brar, and Squadron Leader Bhagwat. However, this is incorrect, because all five pilots flew on separate strike missions against Sargodha at different times that day. Devayya was part of Strike No. 1 which was undertaken early in the morning; Kacker was in Strike No. 3; and Guha was in the sixth Indian strike, which was later in the afternoon. Eventually, the PAF officially corrected their records and accepted that Devayya was actually shot down by Flight Lieutenant Amjad Hussain, and Guha was shot down by Flight Lieutenant A. H. Malik.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_JS4AAAAIAAJ&q=mm+alam+%22guha%22+brar|title=Fiza'ya: Psyche of the Pakistan Air Force|year=1991|pages=30–32|author1=[Pushpindar Singh Chopra](/source/Pushpindar_Singh_Chopra)|author2=Ravi Rikhye|author3=Peter Steinemann |publisher=Society for Aerospace Studies |isbn=978-81-7002-038-7 }} On 16 September, accompanied by his wingman Flying Officer Mohammad Shaukat-ul Islam,{{efn|According to John Fricker, author of ''Battle For Pakistan: The Air War Of 1965'', Flying Officer M. I. Shaukat was a young and inexperienced pilot, with a total of nearly 300 flying hours including 70-80 hours on the [F-86 Sabre](/source/F-86_Sabre).{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/battle-for-pakistan-the-air-war-of-1965-by-john-fricker-1/page/151/mode/2up?q=%22M.+I.+Shaukat%22+%22young+and+inexperienced%22|title=Battle For Pakistan: The Air War Of 1965|author=John Fricker|year=1979|page=151}}}} Squadron Leader MM Alam flew their [F-86 Sabre](/source/F-86_Sabre)s into Indian airspace near [Halwara](/source/Halwara). In response, IAF Flying Officers Prakash Sadhashivrao Pingale and Farokh Dara Bunsha immediately [scrambled](/source/Scrambling_(military)). Upon sighting the Sabres, the IAF pilots split their targets: Pingale pursued and shot down Shaukat, while Bunsha pursued Alam. He was able to manoeuver and out-turn Bunsha in a [dogfight](/source/dogfight) and shot down his Hunter aircraft. Flying Officer Bunsha was [killed in action](/source/killed_in_action).{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qzgxEQAAQBAJ&dq=Bunsha%22+%22MM+Alam%22&pg=PT91|title=Air Warriors: True Stories of Valour and Courage from the Indian Air Force|year=2024|author=Wing Commander (r) Arijit Ghosh |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-6790-052-9 }}{{cite web|url=https://honourpoint.in/profile/flying-officer-farokh-dara-bunsha/|title=Flying Officer Farokh Dara Bunsha|website=Honourpoint|access-date=1 April 2025}} ====Disputed record==== Assessing the widely publicised claims of MM Alam in shooting down five [Hawker Hunters](/source/Hawker_Hunters) in under 30 seconds on 7 September, his former colleague retired [Air Commodore Sajad Haider](/source/Air_Commodore_Sajad_Haider) called the claims into question. In his 2009 memoir, Haider wrote that it was "tactically and mathematically very difficult to resurrect the incident in which all 5 Hunters in a hard turn were claimed to have been shot down in a 270 degree turn in 23 seconds". He highlighted that both, "The Story of the Pakistan Air Force" (1988){{cite book|title=The Story Of The Pakistan Air Force: A Saga Of Courage And Honour|year=1988|publisher=Shaheen Foundation, Pakistan|page=380}} and historian John Fricker, admit the difficulty of verifying the event, especially since only two wrecked aircraft were found near [Sangla Hill](/source/Sangla_Hill_Tehsil).{{cite book|author=[Sajad Haider](/source/Sajad_Haider)|title= Flight of the Falcon: Demolishing myths of Indo-Pak wars 1965 & 1971|year=2009|publisher= Vanguard Books|isbn=9789694025261}} The aircraft belonged to Squadron Leader Sureshchandra Bhaksar Bhagwat and Flying Officer Jagdev Singh Brar, who were burnt beyond recognition. Indian aviation historian [Pushpindar Singh Chopra](/source/Pushpindar_Singh_Chopra){{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_JS4AAAAIAAJ&q=Alam|title=Fiza'ya: Psyche of the Pakistan Air Force|year=1991|pages=30–32|author1=[Pushpindar Singh Chopra](/source/Pushpindar_Singh_Chopra)|author2=Ravi Rikhye|author3=Peter Steinemann |publisher=Society for Aerospace Studies |isbn=978-81-7002-038-7 }} and [F-86 Sabre](/source/F-86_Sabre) enthusiast Duncan Curtis agree with this account and credit Alam with these kills.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/f-86-sabre/F-86%20Sabre/page/167/mode/2up?q=alam|title=North American F-86 Sabre|author=Duncan Curtis|publisher=The Crowood Press|page=167|year=2000|isbn=978-1861263582}} Similarly, Sajad Haider referred to Alam as the "undisputed ace of PAF".{{cite web|url=https://www.pakistanlink.org/Commentary/2010/Dec10/31/01.HTM|date=December 2010|website=Pakistan Link|author=Asif Javed, MD|title=Flight of the Falcon: A Fighter Pilot's Story}} Referring to the other three claimed aircraft, Haider argued that if, in fact, five jets had been downed within 23 seconds during a tight manoeuver, they should have crashed in close proximity of each other. The suggestion that some might have flown for several more minutes before crashing in his view is "superfluous and unworthy of the official PAF history." Despite this, he highlighted that "MM Alam really did an excellent job of shooting down 2 Hunters," and noted that, despite having a "somewhat ineffective wing man," he managed to engage ten Hunters within just a few minutes of combat—an extraordinary feat in itself. Haider went on to credit Alam with a third air kill, that of Squadron Leader Rawlley,{{efn|name="note1"}} who crashed on 6 September shortly after engaging in air combat with Alam.{{cite web|url=https://honourpoint.in/profile/sqn-ldr-a-k-rawlley-2/|title=Sqn Ldr AK Rawlley|website=Honourpoint|access-date=1 April 2025}} Similarly, the IAF credits Alam with this kill.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAhuAAAAMAAJ&q=Alam|title=The India-Pakistan Air War of 1965|quote=Alam, the Sabre pilot that had tangled with Rawlley, called to abort the strike and extricated his aircraft from the fight. Alam claimed two Hunters in this combat and was awarded the kills by the PAF, even though only Rawlley can be attributed as a loss on the Indian side.|page=109|year=2005|author1=P. V. S. Jagan Mohan|author2=Samir Chopra|publisher=Manohar |isbn=978-81-7304-641-4 }} The fact that no verifiable [gun camera](/source/gun_camera) footage of the five Hunter kills on 6 September was ever made public by the Pakistani authorities further casts doubt on Alam's claims.{{Cite book|last=Bowman|first=Martin W.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jliqCwAAQBAJ&q=gun%20camera%20footage%20of%20Alam%20kill&pg=PT196|title=Cold War Jet Combat: Air-to-Air Jet Fighter Operations, 1950–1972|date=2016-01-30|publisher=Pen and Sword|isbn=978-1-4738-7462-6|language=en}} ===Post-war=== After the war, Alam was awarded the [Sitara-i-Jurat](/source/Sitara-i-Jurat) by the [Government of Pakistan](/source/Government_of_Pakistan). According to [Azim Daudpota](/source/Azim_Daudpota), at the award ceremony when Field Marshal [President Ayub Khan](/source/President_Ayub_Khan) was introduced to Alam, Khan had tears in his eyes. In recognition of Alam's achievements, the [Dhaka City Corporation](/source/Dhaka_City_Corporation) gifted him a residence which he did not accept. On 8 March 1968, Wing Commander Alam led the [ferry flight](/source/ferry_flight) that brought the first six [Dassault Mirage III](/source/Dassault_Mirage_III) aircraft from [France](/source/France) into Pakistani airspace. The other aircraft were piloted by Squadron Leaders [Hakimullah Khan Durrani](/source/Hakimullah_Khan_Durrani), [Farooq Feroze Khan](/source/Farooq_Feroze_Khan), and [Farooq Umar](/source/Farooq_Umar), along with Flight Lieutenants Arif Manzoor and Akhtar Rao.{{cite web|url=https://secondtonone.com.pk/2023/07/14/pafs-delta-force/|title=PAF's Delta Force|author=AVM Ikramullah Bhatti (Retd)|date=14 July 2023|publisher=Second to None}} ====Deputation to Syria==== In the early 1970s, he was deputed to Syria at the request of the Syrian government, to train their pilots. After the [1971 War](/source/India%E2%80%93Pakistan_war_of_1971) broke out back home, resulting in the secession of [East Pakistan](/source/East_Pakistan) and the creation of [Bangladesh](/source/Bangladesh), Alam became depressed and did not report for duty for those months according to [Azim Daudpota](/source/Azim_Daudpota). He refused to accept his salary, as he believed he hadn't earned it. Additionally, when some PAF officers had submitted excessive personal claims from the Syrian government, Alam had them court-martialed. Daudpota states that this was from his strict sense of ethics. He was promoted to the rank of temporary Group Captain by the [Government of Pakistan](/source/Government_of_Pakistan) on 10 February 1977.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1LtPAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Muhammad+Mahmood+Alam%22|title=The following promotions are made|page=24|publisher=The Gazette of Pakistan|year=1978}} ===Return to Pakistan=== In July 1978, Air Commodore MM Alam was appointed as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Flight Safety) and was awarded the [Sitara-i-Imtiaz](/source/Sitara-i-Imtiaz) for his contributions.{{cite news|url=https://thefridaytimes.com/20-Nov-2020/remembering-m-m-alam|title=Remembering M.M Alam|author=Tariq Aqil|date=20 November 2020|website=[The Friday Times](/source/The_Friday_Times)}} In 1980, he attended the [Royal College of Defence Studies](/source/Royal_College_of_Defence_Studies) in the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom), where officials issued a report comparing him to Field Marshal [William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim](/source/William_Slim%2C_1st_Viscount_Slim).{{cite news|url=https://www.nation.com.pk/19-Mar-2013/mm-alam-a-fighter-to-the-end |title=MM Alam – A fighter to the end|date=19 March 2013|website=[The Nation (Pakistan)](/source/The_Nation_(Pakistan))|author=Kh Muhammad Jameel}} When he returned to Pakistan, he had hoped he would be given command of an operational air base but was not. In March 1981, he was designated as the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans). In May of that year, he played a key role in the "Zarb-e-Kaleem" exercise of the [Pakistan Army](/source/Pakistan_Army), as commander of Blue Land Forces. He was also responsible for overseeing the planning of the PAF's U.S. aircraft and weapons procurement program and was appointed deputy leader of the PAF delegation to the United States to negotiate a military assistance agreement. Air Commodore Alam was pivotal in determining Pakistan's future air warfare capability. At a briefing with [President Zia-ul-Haq](/source/President_Zia-ul-Haq) and Air Chief Marshal [Anwar Shamim](/source/Anwar_Shamim) to discuss aircraft options now that relations with the USA had resumed, Alam (by his account) stood at the end of the meeting to challenge Shamim. "Sir, we should go for nothing less than [F-16](/source/F-16)s which would serve our needs for the next 20-30 years" His overt challenge incited an irate response from Zia. Before leaving the briefing, Zia threw his folder on the table and said, "Gentlemen, I don't think you have done your homework properly". The Pakistan Air Force eventually bought the F-16s. ===Confronting corruption and subsequent retirement=== By mid-1981, rumors of corruption were circulating within the Air Force, including allegations against Air Chief Marshal [Anwar Shamim](/source/Anwar_Shamim), the [Chief of Air Staff](/source/CAS_of_the_PAF) (CAS). Reportedly, he had purchased a [ranch](/source/ranch) in the [United States](/source/United_States) for $500,000 and "nobody had the courage to inform or question the CAS about this". According to several sources,{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/797345|title=M.M. Alam: a hero for ever|date=23 March 2013|newspaper=[Dawn](/source/Dawn_(newspaper))|author=Air Marshal (r) Ayaz Ahmed Khan}} motivated by loyalty and a strong commitment to integrity, Air Commodore Alam confronted Shamim directly and recommended that an investigation be conducted. Rather, Shamim authored a negative Annual Confidential Report (ACR) on Alam at the end of the year, questioning his character and combat record. Alam brought the corruption allegations against Shamim to the attention of President [General Zia-ul-Haq](/source/General_Zia-ul-Haq), who, after listening to him, responded "I am the Chief Martial Law Administrator, Chief of Army Staff, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee, President and Chief Executive of the country, you think I do not know what you are telling me." Alam replied "Under these circumstances, I am very concerned for Pakistan and I refuse to serve any longer."{{cite news|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/372943|title=Heroes not wanted|author=Dr Farid A Malik|date=4 April 2019|newspaper=[Daily Times (Pakistan)](/source/Daily_Times_(Pakistan))}} To hush up the matter, he was prematurely retired and honourably discharged from service. Air Marshal Ayaz Ahmed Khan, who was then [Vice Chief of Air Staff](/source/Vice_Chief_of_Air_Staff_(Pakistan)) (VCAS), later lamented Alam's forced retirement while remarking that the Air Force had lost a "competent officer of unblemished integrity". Alam felt hurt with the way he was treated and refused to accept his pension even though he had no other source of income. Retd [Commander](/source/Commander) Abdul Qayum Khan of the Pakistan Navy, criticised Air Marshal (r) Ayaz, stating that as the VCAS—second only to the Air Chief in seniority—he couldn't have been so helpless and could have done much more to support Alam. He added that even a few voluntary retirement requests in protest by colleagues might have been a powerful response to the mistreatment Alam faced.{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/799215|title=M.M. Alam: a victimised PAF hero|author1=Muhammad Azeem|author2=Karam A. Siddiqui|author3=Cdr (r) Abdul Qayum Khan|date=31 March 2013|newspaper=[Dawn](/source/Dawn_(newspaper))}} In an attempt to appease him, [General Zia-ul-Haq](/source/General_Zia-ul-Haq) offered him the role of [Pakistan Ambassador to Australia](/source/Pakistan_Ambassador_to_Australia) and the chairmanship of the [Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad](/source/Institute_of_Strategic_Studies_Islamabad), both of which he rejected. Alam had written a letter of appeal to General Zia to contest his retirement. When Zia did not respond, Alam later remarked, "I refused to accept the pension since he didn't accept my letter."{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6E8bAAAAYAAJ&q=%22letter%22|title=Profiles|author=Rina Saeed Khan|year=1998|page=42 |publisher=Vanguard |isbn=978-969-402-319-9 }} ==Later life== thumb|right|Alam in 2010 In 1983, Alam wrote several articles in the Pakistan Army Journal.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EepQAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Air%20Commodore%22%20%22mm%20alam%22|title=Pakistan Army Journal|year=1983|publisher=[GHQ (Pakistan)](/source/GHQ_(Pakistan))}} Shortly afterwards, he disappeared and it was discovered that he had joined the [Afghan Mujahideen](/source/Afghan_Mujahideen) to fight against the Soviet's during the [Soviet-Afghan War](/source/Soviet-Afghan_War). While there, a trip was arranged for him through [Hizb-e Islami](/source/Hizb-e_Islami), so he could take part in a Mujahideen-led attack on the Soviet-controlled [Bagram Air Base](/source/Bagram_Air_Base) in 1985. Professor Raja Ehsan Aziz traveled with Alam to the groups headquarters in [Peshawar](/source/Peshawar), where [Hekmatyar](/source/Hekmatyar) gifted Alam a Russian pistol for [self defence](/source/self_defence), hosted them at his guesthouse, and arranged winter clothing for the duo. Afterwards, Alam drove to [Parachinar](/source/Parachinar) to join his group for a long journey across the mountains on foot and horseback. They crossed the [Azro heights](/source/Azra_District) in the [Logar Province](/source/Logar_Province) through gunfire while evading landmines and needed to cross three other provinces to get to [Bagram](/source/Bagram). Halfway down the heights, Alam slipped on icy rocks and fractured his left arm along with other injuries. After first aid was applied, he returned to [Peshawar](/source/Peshawar) to receive proper treatment. Towards the end of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, Alam later arrived in [Panjshir Valley](/source/Panjshir_Valley) and stayed as a guest of guerilla commander [Ahmad Shah Massoud](/source/Ahmad_Shah_Massoud), who regularly met him and addressed Alam as "General". As months passed by, Air Marshal Ayaz Ahmed Khan had a late-night visitor who came looking gaunt and worn down. The visitor was Alam who had grown a beard, wore a [Pakol](/source/Pakol) cap, and told him that he had not eaten for two days. After eating, he slept for three days, left, and Ayaz never heard from him again. By the year 2000, Alam developed serious medical problems as a result of heavy smoking. By one account, he smoked two packs a day, "the cigarette held between his index and middle finger, flipped from time to time to form a straight line with the swollen blue vein running like a groundswell in the middle of his pistachio-coloured hand, twitching to flick ash." By 2002, Air Chief [Mushaf Ali Mir](/source/Mushaf_Ali_Mir) had a two bedroom guesthouse built for him in the Air Transport Wing (ATW) Mess lawn in [Chaklala](/source/Chaklala) and convinced him to finally accept his pension. He lived there until 2005-2006, when he was advised to temporarily move to [PAF Base Faisal](/source/PAF_Base_Faisal), though he intended to return, repeated delays kept him in Karachi, where he eventually settled in and rebuilt his personal library. On 16 December 2012, Alam was admitted to the [PNS Shifa Hospital](/source/PNS_Shifa_Hospital).{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/480359|title=War hero MM Alam admitted to Shifa|date=16 December 2012|website=[The Express Tribune](/source/The_Express_Tribune)}} Reportedly, there was little to no media coverage of his illness or hospitalization.{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/letter/480506/not-covering-m-m-alam%E2%80%99s-current-illness|title=Not covering M M Alam's current illness|date=17 December 2012|author=Muhammad Asif|website=[The Express Tribune](/source/The_Express_Tribune)}} He died in the morning of 18 March 2013. ==Commemorations== In December 1965, a cricket team named MM Alam's XI was formed in Pakistan in his honour. Among the players on the team was [Hanif Mohammad](/source/Hanif_Mohammad).{{cite web|url=https://www.pcb.com.pk/other-matches-in-pakistan-196566/match/691.html|title=Aziz Bhatti Shaheed's XI v MM Alam's XI|date=17-19 December 1965|website=[Pakistan Cricket Board](/source/Pakistan_Cricket_Board)}} Since as early as 1975, a road in [Lahore](/source/Lahore) has been named after Alam.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RP1QAAAAYAAJ&q=%22MM%20Alam%20road%22|title=Indus: Journal of the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority|volume=17|publisher=[Water and Power Development Authority](/source/Water_and_Power_Development_Authority)|year=1975|page=38}} Stretching from Main Market to [Gulberg](/source/Gulberg%2C_Lahore), MM Alam Road runs parallel to the Main Boulevard and serves as an alternative route. Over the years, it has evolved into a commercial hub, with numerous restaurants, fashion boutiques, shopping malls, beauty salons, and décor stores.{{cite news|last=Haq |first=Shahram |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/88625|title=Urban planning: MM Alam Road to be heart of new business district|newspaper=[The Express Tribune](/source/The_Express_Tribune)|date=11 December 2010 |url-status=dead |access-date=16 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225080423/http://tribune.com.pk/story/88625|archive-date=25 December 2016}} On his first death anniversary in 2014, [PAF Base Mianwali](/source/PAF_Base_Mianwali) was renamed [PAF Base M.M. Alam](/source/PAF_Base_M.M._Alam).{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/685226|title=PAF honours ace pilot MM Alam, renames Mianwali air base after him|newspaper=[The Express Tribune](/source/The_Express_Tribune)|url-status=dead|date=20 March 2014|access-date=16 May 2024|archive-date=4 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504011027/https://tribune.com.pk/story/685226}} In addition, the [Pakistan Post](/source/Pakistan_Post) issued a commemorative stamp in his honour designed by [Adil Salahuddin](/source/Adil_Salahuddin).{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1094211|title=Postage stamp|date=20 March 2014|newspaper=[Dawn](/source/Dawn_(newspaper))}} On 14 May 2023, the daughter of former Prime Minister [Nawaz Sharif](/source/Nawaz_Sharif), [Maryam Nawaz](/source/Maryam_Nawaz), falsely claimed that during the [May 9 riots](/source/May_9_riots), protesters in [Mianwali](/source/Mianwali) had burned down a fighter jet flown by MM Alam. However, ''[Geo News](/source/Geo_News)'' fact-checked the claim, citing an anonymous official who clarified that the aircraft was a non-functional replica of an [Shenyang F-6](/source/Shenyang_F-6), not the [F-86 Sabre](/source/F-86_Sabre) piloted by Alam in the 1965 war. The official added that his Sabre is preserved at the [PAF Museum, Karachi](/source/PAF_Museum%2C_Karachi) and that the F-6 replica only sustained minor damage to its ceramic coating, which had since been repainted and "is now as good as new."{{cite news|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/488375|title=Fact-check: No, M.M. Alam's jet was not burnt by protesters on May 9|date=20 May 2023|author=Geo Fact-Check|website=[GEO News](/source/GEO_News)}} ==Awards and decorations== ===Sitara-e-Jurat=== His [Sitara-e-Jurat](/source/Sitara-e-Jurat) citation reads:
{{center|'''CITATION'''
'''SQUADRON LEADER MM Alam (PAK/1492)'''}} "On 6 Sep 1965, during an aerial combat over enemy territory, Sqn Ldr MM Alam flying as pilot of an F-86 Sabre Jet shot down two enemies Hunter aircraft and damaged three others. For the exceptional flying skill and valour displayed by Sqn Ldr MM Alam in operations, he was awarded SJ. On 7 Sep 1965, in a number of interception missions flown by Sqn Ldr Muhammad Mahmood Alam against the enemy aircraft attacking Pakistan Air Force Station, Sargodha. Sqn Ldr Alam destroyed five more enemy's Hunter aircraft in less than a minute; this remains a record till today. Overall, he had nine kills and two damages to his credit. For the exceptional flying skill and valour shown by him in pressing home his attacks in aerial combats with the enemy, Sqn Ldr Muhammad Mahmood Alam is awarded a Bar to his SJ."
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |colspan ="5"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=PAF GDP Red.png|width=200}} |- | |colspan ="1"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Jurat.png|width=130}} |colspan ="1"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Imtiaz.png|width=130}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Diffa.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War Ribbon.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War.png|width=130}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Republic Medal 1956 (Pakistan).png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Hijri Tamgha.png|width=130}} |} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" | colspan="5" |'''PAF''' GD(P) Badge '''RED''' (More than '''3000''' Flying Hours) |- | colspan="2" |'''[Sitara-e-Jurat](/source/Sitara-e-Jurat) & Bar'''{{efn|name="note2"}} ''(Star of Courage)'' '''[1965 War](/source/1965_War)''' | colspan="2" |'''[Sitara-i-Imtiaz](/source/Sitara-i-Imtiaz)''' ''(Military)'' ''(Star of Excellence)'' |- |'''[Tamgha-e-Diffa](/source/Tamgha-e-Diffa)''' ''(Defence Medal)'' '''1. [1965 War](/source/1965_War) Clasp''' '''2. [1971 War](/source/India%E2%80%93Pakistan_war_of_1971) Clasp''' |'''[Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War](/source/Sitara-e-Harb_1965_War)''' ''(War Star 1965)'' |'''[Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War](/source/Sitara-e-Harb_1971_War)''' ''(War Star 1971)'' |'''[Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War](/source/Tamgha-e-Jang_1965_War)''' ''(War Medal 1965)'' |- |'''[Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War](/source/Tamgha-e-Jang_1971_War)''' ''(War Medal 1971)'' |'''[Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam](/source/Tamgha-e-Sad_Saala_Jashan-e-Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam)''' ''(100th Birth Anniversary of [Muhammad Ali Jinnah](/source/Muhammad_Ali_Jinnah))'' '''1976''' |'''[Tamgha-e-Qayam-e-Jamhuria](/source/Tamgha-e-Qayam-e-Jamhuria)''' ''(Republic Commemoration Medal)'' '''1956''' |'''[Hijri Tamgha](/source/Hijri_Tamgha)''' ''(Hijri Medal)'' '''1979''' |} ==See also== *[Aviators who became ace in a day](/source/Aviators_who_became_ace_in_a_day) *[8-Pass Charlie](/source/8-Pass_Charlie) *[Saiful Azam](/source/Saiful_Azam) *[Manuel J. Fernandez](/source/Manuel_J._Fernandez) ==Notes== {{notelist}} ==References== {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Alam, Muhammad Mahmood}} Category:1935 births Category:2013 deaths Category:Disputed flying aces Category:Pakistan Air Force officers Category:Pakistani flying aces Category:Pilots of the India–Pakistan war of 1965 Category:Recipients of Sitara-e-Jurat Category:Military personnel from Karachi Category:Military personnel from Kolkata Category:Pakistani aviation record holders Category:Pakistan Air Force Academy alumni Category:Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies Category:Pakistani people of Bihari descent Category:Pakistani test pilots Category:Pakistani Muslims Category:People from Karachi --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [MM Alam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MM_Alam) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MM_Alam?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.